Confucianism Origin: Founded by: Master Kung - Kung Tzu - Kung Fu Tzu - "Confucius" -Lived in China 551 - 479 BC -Attempted to restore political order -Very little is known about his life - his biography was written 400 years after death -His teaching became a religious philosophy -Devoted his life to learning - natural teacher -Honored only after death
Basic Beliefs:
-The Way - truths of the universe
Controversial term
Similar to the "Truth"
-Virtues
-Ideal Character
Sage - highest level
Good man
Complete man
-Goodness of man, benevolence, definition of humanity - most important quality
Overwhelming the self
Return to observance of rites
-Ultimate reality cannot be understood by man
-Human morals are to be based on human relationships
-Knowledge of right and wrong
Born with knowledge
Obtain knowledge through studies
-Righteousness is only achieved when one consistently does what is right
-Purpose of existence: to reach one's highest potential as a human being
-Suffering and evil are inevitable
-Afterlife is beyond human comprehension
-Humans should act to uphold human relations as opposed to the promise of an afterlife
Religious Practices:
-Rituals united people and strengthened relationships
-Ancestor worship
Sacred Texts:
Analects
The Five Classics
Shu Ching (Classic of History)
Shih Ching (Classic of Odes)
I Ching (Classic of Changes)
Ch'un Ching (Spring and Autumn Annals)
Li Ching (Classic of Rites)
The Four Books
Lun Yu (Analects) of Confucius
Chung Yung (Doctrine of the Mean)
Ta Hsueh (Great Learning)
Meng Tzu (Mencius)
Sacred Sites:
-Divine sites are beyond human comprehension
-No sacred places outside of life on earth
Famous Quotes of Confucius:
"I set my heart on the Way, base myself on virtue, lean upon benevolence for support and take my recreation in the arts."
"When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending your ways."
"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage."
"Not to mend one's ways when one has erred is to err indeed."
Origin:
Founded by: Master Kung - Kung Tzu - Kung Fu Tzu - "Confucius"
-Lived in China 551 - 479 BC
-Attempted to restore political order
-Very little is known about his life - his biography was written 400 years after death
-His teaching became a religious philosophy
-Devoted his life to learning - natural teacher
-Honored only after death
Basic Beliefs:
-The Way - truths of the universe
- Controversial term
- Similar to the "Truth"
-Virtues-Ideal Character
- Sage - highest level
- Good man
- Complete man
-Goodness of man, benevolence, definition of humanity - most important quality- Overwhelming the self
- Return to observance of rites
-Ultimate reality cannot be understood by man-Human morals are to be based on human relationships
-Knowledge of right and wrong
- Born with knowledge
- Obtain knowledge through studies
-Righteousness is only achieved when one consistently does what is right-Purpose of existence: to reach one's highest potential as a human being
-Suffering and evil are inevitable
-Afterlife is beyond human comprehension
-Humans should act to uphold human relations as opposed to the promise of an afterlife
Religious Practices:
-Rituals united people and strengthened relationships
-Ancestor worship
Sacred Texts:
Analects
The Five Classics
- Shu Ching (Classic of History)
- Shih Ching (Classic of Odes)
- I Ching (Classic of Changes)
- Ch'un Ching (Spring and Autumn Annals)
- Li Ching (Classic of Rites)
The Four BooksSacred Sites:
-Divine sites are beyond human comprehension
-No sacred places outside of life on earth
Famous Quotes of Confucius:
"I set my heart on the Way, base myself on virtue, lean upon benevolence for support and take my recreation in the arts."
"When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending your ways."
"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage."
"Not to mend one's ways when one has erred is to err indeed."